Elderly Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Felling Tree in Ujung Kulon National Park

A resident from Cimanggu District, Pandeglang Regency, Banten, named Amirudin has been found guilty of felling a kecapi tree in Ujung Kulon National Park (TNUK). The 61-year-old man was sentenced to two years imprisonment.

“The defendant Amirudin alias Amir has been proven, beyond reasonable doubt, guilty of the criminal offence of participating in the extraction of living resources naturally occurring in a nature conservation area,” stated the panel of judges at Pandeglang District Court, cited from the Pandeglang District Court case management system on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.

“The defendant is hereby sentenced to imprisonment for two years,” the court ruling continued.

In addition to the prison sentence, he was fined 10 million rupiah. Should this fine not be paid, it would be replaced with one month’s imprisonment.

“A fine of 10 million rupiah, with the provision that if the fine is not paid, it shall be replaced by one month’s imprisonment,” read the court ruling.

The case began in June 2025, when the defendant entered the TNUK area in the Kubang Badak Block, Coffee Resort PTN, Section III PTN Area Sumur, to fell a kecapi tree. The wood was intended to renovate the defendant’s house.

“The defendant stated that the wood was intended to repair or renovate the roof of the defendant’s kitchen,” read the indictment.

Subsequently, the defendant asked a witness to fell the tree using a chainsaw. After the tree fell, the witness proceeded to cut the timber into several pieces.

While carrying out this activity, park rangers discovered their actions. Both immediately stopped their cutting activity.

“While the defendant and witness Arsana were cutting the tree, park rangers from Ujung Kulon National Park arrived and ordered the defendant and witness Arsana to cease the activity,” read the indictment.

As a result of the defendant’s actions, TNUK reported material losses of approximately 504,000 rupiah. The defendant’s conduct constitutes a violation of Article 78 paragraph (5) of Law Number 41 of 1999 concerning Forestry, read together with Article 50 paragraph (3) letter e concerning Forestry and Article 55 paragraph (1) clause 1 of the Criminal Code.

“Consequently, Ujung Kulon National Park suffered material losses valued at 504,000 rupiah,” the court panel stated.